Six persons are now homeless after a fire of unknown origin completely destroyed two, two-storey houses located at Lots 166 and 167 Charlotte Street, between Cummings and Light Streets, Georgetown, on Monday at approximately 21:45hrs.
Owner of the Lot 166 Charlotte Street property, Mark D’Aguiar, 58, told reporters that he and his family, including his 91-year-old mother and his sister, were at home when they observed smoke coming from the bedroom of a neighbour, he identified as June Henry.
D’Aguiar said he raised an alarm, and the Guyana Fire Service was summoned but the wooden building was already engulfed in flames, which quickly spread from the Henry’s home to his home by the time the firefighters arrived.
“I saw smoke coming out from the back bedroom so by time we could’ve rushed out and shout for fire, the fire start engulf and by the house is a little bit old, it start to catch real fast,” D’Aguair said.
Meanwhile, Raymond Baird who occupies a nearby house recalled smelling smoke. He said out of curiosity he looked out his window.
“I watching TV and just as I was about to turn off the television, I got a funny scent. I start looking and when I looked through from my window, I see redness at the house at the back,” Baird recounted
Firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other nearby buildings.
Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, told Village Voice Guyana that an investigation is currently ongoing and the victims are waiting to be interviewed by investigators.
